Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1893 - David Balfour

292 DAVID BALFOUR
Aud ye could never imagine the fyke and fash this man
has been to me."
" Very good, sir," said I. " Then I will make that
much freedom with your kindness, as trouble you for
your last news of Mr. Drummond."
" You're welcome, sir ! " said he. " As for the
young leddy (my respec's to her !) he'll Just have clean
forgotten her. I ken the man, ye see ; I have lost
siller by him ere now. lie tiiinks of naebody but just
himsel' ; clan, king, or dauchter, if he can get his
Avameful, he would give them a' the go-by ! ay, or his
correspondent either. For there is a sense in whilk I
may be nearly almost said to be his correspondent.
The fact is, we are employed thegether in a business
affair, and I think it's like to turn out a dear affair for
Sandie Sprott. The man's as guid's my pairtncr, and
I give ye my mere word I ken naething l^y where he is.
He micht be coming here to Helvoet ; he micht come
here the morn, he michtnae come for a twalmonth ; I
would wonder at naething — or just at the ae thing, and
that's if he was to pay mo my siller. Ye see what way
I stand with it ; and it's clear I'm no very likel}^ to
meddle up with the young leddy, as ye ca' her. She
cannae stop here, that's ae thing certain sure. Dod,
sir, I'm a lone man ! If I was to tak her in, its highly
possible the hellicat would try and gar me marry her
when he turned up."
" Enough of this talk," said I, "' I will take the